The Lone Ranger to avenge the death of Zorro!?

by Dynamite Entertainment

Press Release

One of comicdom’s first and greatest heroes, Zorro, will have fallen in battle, sacrificing his life to save his people. Upon learning of this tragedy, it falls unto the future hero of the Wild West, The Lone Ranger®, to avenge the death!

Dynamite Entertainment, home to several best-selling comic book titles and properties, and Classic Media, a global media company with a portfolio of some of the world’s leading entertainment franchises, including The Lone Ranger, and Zorro LLC, today announced the publication of the first crossover comic for pop-culture’s most-famous masked heroes, The Lone Ranger and Zorro.

Written by Ande Parks, the first issue will also feature covers by Alex Ross and professional wrestling icon-turned-artist, Jerry “The King” Lawler, as well as Francesco Francavilla and Tom Yeates! The comic is scheduled to arrive in stores in March 2011.

“This series is a really exciting opportunity for me,” says writer Ande Parks. “Not only do I get to write two truly legendary American heroes, but I get to write a defining moment for one of them… his death. This series isn’t just about the death of Zorro, though. It’s about the enormous legacy that he leaves behind. When a hero dies, he leaves behind a legion of people that have been touched by his deeds. In this case, Zorro’s legacy has touched a young Lone Ranger. Unfortunately, the bad guys that have ended Zorro’s life are a small but powerful army who plan on continuing to victimize the Native Americans Zorro was trying to help. Zorro’s legacy, even as embodied by The Lone Ranger, may not be enough to defeat this army of renegade Civil War bushwhackers.”

“Zorro and The Lone Ranger were two of the primary icons I had never gotten a chance to paint before, and I was excited to get the chance with such an important crossover,” says Alex Ross. “Of the designs I conceived, this is more of an intimate portrait-like shot, separating the two men by the subtlest of details.”

“Zorro is one of the most iconic heroes of all time, and it is an incredible honor that Zorro is partnered with another legendary hero, The Lone Ranger,” adds John Gertz, the President & CEO Zorro Productions, Inc. “This comic is a must-read for fans of both Zorro and The Lone Ranger!”

“We are excited to partner with Dynamite Entertainment and Zorro Productions to bring together two of the greatest heroes in the comic world,” said Karyn Schneider, VP, Licensing, Classic Media. “The Lone Ranger is America’s favorite hero of the Wild West and has captured the hearts and imaginations of fans for generations. With the two characters’ enduring legacies, this first crossover comic marks a memorable moment in comic book and pop-culture history, inspiring fans for many years to come.”

Dynamite has had tremendous critical success with our Zorro and The Lone Ranger books, written by Matt Wagner and Brett Matthews respectively, and are honored to be working with Ande Parks to tell this tale,” says Dynamite President Nick Barrucci. “I am excited to see the responses from fans from both franchises in this crossover of these two renowned heroes!”

ABOUT DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT:

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT, the publishing division of DYNAMIC FORCES, INC., was founded in 2004 and is home to several best-selling comic book titles and properties, including Red Sonja, Green Hornet, Project Superpowers, The Boys, Army of Darkness, Battlestar Galactica, The Lone Ranger, Zorro and more!

In addition to their critically-acclaimed titles and best selling comics, Dynamite works with some of the most high profile creators in comics and entertainment, including Alex Ross, John Cassaday, Garth Ennis, Michael Turner, Jim Lee, Michael Avon Oeming, Brian Reed, Mel Rubi, Marc Guggenheim, Stephen Sadowski, Mike Carey, Jim Krueger, Greg Pak, Brett Matthews, Matt Wagner and a host of up and coming new talent and fan favorite creators!

DYNAMITE is consistently ranked in the upper tiers of comic book publishers and several of their more recent launches – including Alex Ross and Jim Krueger’s PROJECT SUPERPOWERS – have debuted in the Top Ten lists produced by Diamond Comics Distributors. In 2005 Diamond awarded the company a GEM award for Best New Publisher and another GEM in 2006 for Comics Publisher of the Year (under 5%). The company has also been nominated for several industry awards, including the prestigious Eisner Award.

Aside from their monthly periodical comic book series, DYNAMITE also produces new and classic material, including Tim Truman’s SCOUT, Carlos Trillo and Eduardo Risso’s BORDERLINE and TALES OF TERROR, Jim Starlin’s DREADSTAR, as well as reprint editions of classic RED SONJA material.

About Classic Media

Classic Media, one of the world’s largest independent entertainment companies, is a leader in reinventing the classics of yesterday and creating the entertainment classics of tomorrow. The Company owns and manages a globally-recognized portfolio of well-known family and pop-culture entertainment brands, including Casper the Friendly Ghost®, Where’s Waldo?®, Lassie®, Gold Key Comics, The Lone Ranger®, and new global brands Tinga Tinga Tales® and Guess with Jess®. Big Idea, a member of the Classic Media family, is the leading faith-based studio and producer of children’s programming, including the best-selling animated series, VeggieTales®. More than 3,600 hours of Classic Media programming is distributed in more than 170 territories worldwide and showcased in multiple formats, including TV, film, home video, consumer products, publishing, digital, and music. Visit us at http://www.classicmedia.tv.

About The Lone Ranger®

With one jaunty call, “Hi-Yo, Silver!” The Lone Ranger sparked a cultural phenomenon that would establish him as America’s favorite hero of the Wild West. Mounted atop a white stallion, he became a steadfast symbol for truth and justice, capturing the hearts and imaginations of generations of fans. The Lone Ranger’s pioneering radio show, which debuted on WXYZ Detroit in 1933, inspired numerous comic books, feature films, a Saturday morning animated series and the classic live-action TV show from the 40s and 50s.